Avalanche forecast

Mt Hood

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
No rating
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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Rain will eventually change back to snow, and strong winds will help build new slabs. Expect wind features - and any avalanches you trigger- to become larger as you climb above 6000 ft, particularly on the downwind sides of canyons and on larger alpine terrain. You can significantly reduce your exposure by sticking to ridgelines and slopes under 35 degrees. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    High-elevation rain will eventually change back to snow during the overnight hours and easily drift into slabs across the middle and upper elevations. Expect the slab size and distribution to increase as you ascend into upper elevation terrain. These wind slabs will likely be thinner near treeline, but look for these slabs to grow rapidly above 6500 ft, particularly as you crest into larger, more connected alpine terrain.

    These slabs will likely build on wet snow surfaces or a newly formed crust, causing slab reactivity to vary from slope to slope. Friday will be a good day to use small test slopes and quick snowpack tests to gauge sensitivity, while watching for signs of recent loading, cornice growth, and freshly wind-textured snow. Avoid steep and unsupported slopes that show signs of recent wind loading. Any triggered avalanche - big or small- would be a nasty ride with all the early-season obstacles that still plague the volcano. 

    (12/18/2025)

    An example of a small intentionally triggered wind slab from Thursday on Mt Hood. 

    SS-AS-R1-D1-S @ E aspect, 6500 ft. 

    Photo: Joe Dellaporta

Avalanche Discussion

Thursday was a wet and windy day across the Mt. Hood zone, thanks to a potent atmospheric river that favored Mt. Hood and the southern Washington volcanoes. The storm started cold and brought around 11-13 inches to the ski area bases on warming temperatures. Unsurprisingly, NWAC forecasters found reactive storm snow and easily triggered small avalanches along wind-loaded features above 6000 ft. They also reported a sharp rise in avalanche danger as they crested above 6000 ft into windier terrain.  Unfortunately, temperatures kept spiking throughout the day, and higher weather stations reported temperatures above freezing, so you can expect a newly formed crust that extends through at least 8000 ft. 

The big question for Friday is how much new snow will fall over this crust? We’ll have to see. But that will directly influence how dangerous conditions become. It may also create another round of icy surfaces in scoured terrain. It may be a good day to pack the boot or ski crampons for upper elevation travel  if snowfall underproduces. 

The weather over the past few weeks has been extraordinary, with torrential rains, extreme winds, flooding, and landslides. Many communities are dealing with damage to homes, infrastructure, and businesses, stretching resources thin. These events have limited access to the mountains for all of us. State and local resources are working diligently to reduce the worst of these impacts. We can help by being respectful of local communities, obeying road closures, and heeding ski area uphill travel policies.

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